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TRNAVA, Slovakia, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Wales captain Craig Bellamy scored twice to help his team thrash Slovakia 5-2 in their Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.
Bellamy was the architect of Wales's third victory in Group D, which was sweet revenge for John Toshack's young side after their 5-1 defeat by Slovakia in Cardiff last October.
A Freddy Eastwood equaliser, Jan Durica's own goal and a last-gasp Simon Davies strike wrapped up a convincing win for the Welsh, who lost 2-0 to group leaders Germany on Saturday.
The victory put Wales level on 10 points with the Slovaks although both countries are 12 points drift of the Germans with virtually no hope of qualifying for next year's finals.
Slovakia, playing without injured striker Robert Vittek, controlled the ball for most of the game, testing goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey repeatedly. But the visitors registered five goals despite having only four shots on target.
It was the first time Wales had scored five goals in an away match since 1996 and was their first away win in a competitive international since they beat Northern Ireland in October 2005.
"Wales gave us a lesson in productivity, I guess I won't sleep tonight," said Slovakia midfielder Marek Sapara. "We spoiled it ourselves. We were leading 1-0 but allowed three goals after three silly mistakes when Bellamy used his speed."
Slovakia's stand-in captain Marek Mintal replied for the home side, having opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a perfect shot in the top corner of Wayne Hennessey's goal.
The striker was close to adding a second four minutes later but the Welsh keeper caught his low shot.
The Slovaks threatened again in the 19th but Hennessey palmed out a sizzling long-range shot by defender Marek Cech.
Slovakia put Wales under pressure but it was Eastwood who equalised when he tapped the ball into Stefan Senecky's empty net after a defensive error in the 22nd minute.
BELLAMY STRIKES
Wales shocked the home fans again in the 34th when Bellamy outpaced Durica and fired high into the net above Senecky.
The Wales skipper, who missed the Germany match to be with his unwell new-born daughter, used his speed again seven minutes later to get behind the defence and meet a perfect cross.
Bellamy, who had helped set up Eastwood's goal, struck a left-foot shot that bounced off the bar into the net.
Slovakia almost pulled one back just before the break but Maros Klimpl's powerful volley hit the bar.
Mintal got Slovakia into the match in the 57th minute, beating Hennessey just in front of the post, after a precise low cross from Cech.
Bellamy carved out another goal in the 78th minute when his cross from the left was turned in by Durica to make it 4-2 to the visitors before Davies rounded off the scoring in the 90th.
"We wanted to prevent one-on-one situations but Bellamy defeated us alone. I am devastated by the result," said Slovakia coach Jan Kocian.
